READING — A judge has sentenced a former Daniel Boone Area High School teacher to detention, in the form of house arrest, after she admitted to having sexual contact with a 15-year-old male student on several occasions in her home.

Kristy Risell, 32, of the 2100 block of Orchard View Road, Exeter, was sentenced in Berks County Court this week to five years’ probation, three months of which she will be detained under house arrest, after she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of institutional sexual assault. Under house arrest, Risell will have to wear an electronic device that will monitor her whereabouts and will be permitted to leave her home only for purposes that are approved by probation officials.

As a result of her plea, Risell, who taught English, also will be a registered sex offender and have to report her address to police for the next 25 years.

Risell still faces an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if she meets criteria under the state’s Megan’s Law to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those deemed to be predators face more stringent restrictions under Megan’s Law, including mandatory counseling, a lifetime address reporting requirement and community notification about their housing arrangements.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Kurland said parents send their children to school, under the trust of teachers, expecting the children will be protected.

“This teacher took that trust and exploited it and used that child for whatever her selfish motivations or reasons were,” Kurland said.

The sentence was imposed by Judge John A. Boccabella, who accepted a plea agreement reached between Kurland and defense lawyer William R. Bernhart.

Kurland explained prosecutors didn’t necessarily believe the punishment was the just resolution but that the victim’s family didn’t want to delay a resolution.

“This was a compromise to get that resolution,” Kurland explained.

Risell raised a potential insanity defense to the charges and while prosecutors didn’t believe it had merit, the matter could have taken months to litigate and that would have delayed a resolution, which is what the victim’s family wanted, Kurland explained.

An attempt to reach Bernhart for comment about the case was unsuccessful.

According to prosecutors, the investigation into Risell’s misconduct began after Exeter Township Police received a report that a 15-year-old boy was sexually abused by his teacher between January and April 2012.

Authorities said the “relationship” started with text message communication and Risell later arranged “private meetings with the victim at her home in Exeter Township.”

In March 2012, Risell picked the boy up from his home and drove him to her residence where she “engaged in sexual activity” with him, according to court papers.